At long last, Fortnite: Save the World, is finally leaving early access nearly three years after launch. When the game first launched, it was as a 1-4 player PvE third-person shooter, but soon the Fortnite battle royale mode conquered the genre completely, shifting the developer’s priority and throwing the future of Save the World way off its initial course.

In a developer blog post, the team spoke about the long, strange journey it has been in adding a vast collection of unique Heroes and Schematics, as well as the overhaul we have seen to the Front End UI and Hero Loadout screens. While early access is finally ending, one key point stood out, and that was the decision not to move the game towards a free-to-play environment.

This is a fascinating bit of news, and we would love to know more about the decision-making process here because for years Epic Games had stated that Save the World would be heading towards a free-to-play model. No explanation has been given in the developer post, though two theories stand out that might explain the move.

First, there was a recent change in how Save the World sold in-game items. Before, the mode utilized a “Llama” that could be purchased with V-Bucks, the same premium currency used in Fortnite for cosmetic skins. This monetization method was basically a loot box with randomized items for in-game use and was scrapped in January of 2019 with patch 7.30. Without a viable monetization method, or one that is as lucrative, there might be little reason to make the game free-to-play.

Second is that in its current form, Save the World provides players with daily missions that can earn V-Bucks for use in either mode. Allowing players access to that for free would certainly affect profits as players would be spending less real money to purchase cosmetics in the battle royale.

For those who are vested in the long-term progression of Save the World, there is something new to work towards. Ventures are being introduced as a new season-long excursion with its own thematic zone and unique modifiers. Each season will bring progression and seasonal levels, all of which will be used to earn seasonal rewards for a player’s permanent collection. Other events, such as Frostnite and Dungeons will continue to take place concurrently, and more news on this will be made available soon.

NEXT: Nintendo Gets Pushback In Shareholder Meeting For Lack Of Game Announcements In 2020